Marine snails: Transition from egg-laying to live birth
Unraveling the genetic changes in marine snails
A recent study has shed light on the genetic changes that allow marine snails to transition from egg-laying to live birth .
This transition is an evolutionarily recent phenomenon and provides valuable insights into the genetic basis of live-bearing.
The researchers focused on a specific species of marine snail called Littorina saxatilis, which has recently evolved live-bearing while its related species continue to lay eggs
This species of snail is unique in terms of its breeding strategy, making it an ideal subject for studying the transition from egg-laying to live birth .
The study found that the switch to live-bearing in marine snails is caused by approximately 50 genetic changes scattered throughout the snail genome .
These genetic changes are responsible for the transition from egg-laying to giving birth to live offspring.